Wed·Feb 11, 2026Wednesday·February 11, 2026

1. 01*

   A multi-event interface for next-to-leading order calculations in MadGraph5_aMC@NLO

   Rikkert Frederix🇸🇪 · Stefan Roiser🇨🇭 · Robert Schöfbeck🇦🇹 · Zenny Wettersten🇨🇭 · Marco Zaro🇮🇹

   We detail the implementation of a multi-event interface for next-to-leading order (NLO) calculations in MadGraph5_aMC@NLO, allowing tree-level scattering amplitudes for multiple phase space points to be evaluated in each call to the integrated NLO differential cross section during event generation. Additionally, a multithreaded implementation based on this multi-event interface where tree-level amplitudes are evaluated in parallel across multiple CPU threads is presented for the Monte Carlo generation of quantum chromodynamical (QCD) events. Although this work primarily concerns the implemented code, some algorithmic changes involving the order of the application of phase-space cuts and calls to different scattering amplitudes are included. The codebase currently supports multi-threaded execution, but these changes pave the way for continued data parallelism in the form of on-CPU SIMD instructions or SIMT GPU offloading. A study in the runtime fraction spent in different diagrammatic contributions across various processes suggests that NLO QCD event generation are computationally dominated by tree-level scattering amplitude evaluations, which we show are perfectly suited for data parallelisation.

   hep-ph0 citations
2. 02*

   Study of the $J/\psi \to \Lambda {\bar{\Sigma }}^0\eta$ reaction

   L. R. Dai🇨🇳 · Wen-Tao Lyu🇨🇳 · E. Oset🇪🇸

   We study the isospin violating $J/\psi \to \Lambda {\bar{\Sigma }}^0\eta$ reaction, recently measured by the BESIII collaboration, by looking at the dominant terms with ${\bar{\Sigma }}^0$ and a pair of pseudoscalar-baryon particles that form together an SU(3) singlet and can thus couple to the $J/\psi$. Next we allow these pairs to undergo final state interaction to produce the final $\eta \Lambda$. We find that the relevant original channels are $\bar{K}N$ and $K\Xi$, and the non cancelation of terms involving charged and neutral particles, because of their different masses, is responsible for the reaction. With that mechanism we find a good agreement with the three experimental mass distributions.

   hep-ph5 citations
3. 03*

   pMSSM versus complete models and the excellent prospects for top-squark discovery at HL-LHC

   Howard Baer🇺🇸 · Vernon Barger🇺🇸 · Kairui Zhang🇺🇸

   LHC sparticle search limits are usually performed within the context of simplified models and subsequently interpreted within the 19 parameter phenomenological MSSM (pMSSM) as to how many models avoid search limits for a particular sparticle mass, often including WIMP dark matter constraints. We provide a critical discussion of this procedure and how it can go wrong due to the introduction of new prejudices. By ameliorating these conditions, one is pushed into the more plausible four extra parameter non-universal Higgs model (NUHM4). Implementing a decoupling/quasi-degeneracy solution to the SUSY flavor and CP problems leads to first/second generation sfermions in the tens-of-TeV range. In this case, the natural solutions typically contain top-squarks in the 1-2 TeV range which are accessible to high-lumi LHC (HL-LHC) searches. This search channel, along with higgsino and wino pair production, may allow a nearly complete scan of natural/plausible parameter space by HL-LHC.

   hep-phJHEP(2026)·1 citation
4. 04*

   Reply to "Comment on 'QCD factorization with multihadron fragmentation functions'"

   T.C. Rogers🇺🇸 · M. Radici🇮🇹 · A. Courtoy🇲🇽 · T. Rainaldi🇺🇸

   We respond to comments in arXiv:2502.15817v2 about our article, arXiv:2412.12282. We stand by our conclusions and defend them against the criticisms.

   hep-phhep-thnucl-thPRD(2026)·1 citation
5. 05*

   Constructing Dimension-8 SMEFT from Conserved Currents

   Leonardo P. G. De Assis🇺🇸

   Effective Field Theories (EFTs) are the primary tool for interpreting precision collider data in the absence of new resonances. However, in the dimension-8 Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT), the utility of traditional algebraically minimal bases is fundamentally limited by kinematic mixing: multiple operators contribute to a single high-energy amplitude, creating degeneracies that obscure ultraviolet interpretations and complicate the application of theoretical constraints. We introduce a generative framework that resolves this by constructing operators directly from the conserved Noether currents of the Standard Model. The resulting Kinematically Diagonalized Current Basis (KDCB) ensures that each operator maps to a unique asymptotic energy scaling ($E^4$, $E^2$, $E^0$) in scattering amplitudes. This organization makes S-matrix positivity bounds manifest, enables a stable auxiliary-field formulation for Monte Carlo simulation, and provides direct diagnostics for universal versus non-universal ultraviolet completions through current decomposition. By rotating the operator space into physically interpretable sectors, the KDCB offers a transformative framework for global fits and a clear pathway from high-energy data to the structure of new physics.

   hep-phPRD(2026)·1 citation
6. 06*

   Ward-Takahashi Identity in Denominator Regularization at One Loop

   Mickaya A. Razanaparany🇲🇬

   Explicit analytic expressions for the electron self-energy and the vertex correction in quantum electrodynamics are derived at one loop using the recently proposed regularization scheme known as denominator regularization, assisted by its correspondence with dimensional regularization to determine the coefficient functions, which are a specific ingredient of this approach. We then show that the regularized amplitudes satisfy the Ward-Takahashi identity, thereby ensuring that gauge symmetry is preserved after regularization.

   hep-ph0 citations
7. 07*

   Entanglement suppression for $\Omega \Omega$ scattering

   Katsuyoshi Sone🇯🇵 · Tao-Ran Hu🇨🇳 · Feng-Kun Guo🇨🇳 · Tetsuo Hyodo🇯🇵 · Ian Low🇺🇸

   We study entanglement suppression in $s$-wave $\Omega \Omega$ scattering, where each baryon has spin $3/2$. By treating the $S$-matrix as a quantum operator acting on the spin states, we quantify its ability to generate entanglement and identify the conditions on the phase shifts of the spin channels that minimize entanglement generation in the system. In $\Omega \Omega$ scattering, only antisymmetric spin channels are allowed due to Fermi-Dirac statistics. Applying the entanglement-suppression framework to $\Omega \Omega$ scattering, we find two solutions for the phase shifts: one leading to a spin SU(4) symmetry and the other to a nonrelativistic conformal symmetry. We show that the solution associated with the nonrelativistic conformal symmetry originates from the specific structure of the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients in the $3/2\otimes 3/2$ system.

   hep-phnucl-thquant-ph5 citations
8. 08*

   Constraints on invisible $B^{+}\to K^{+}X$ decays from the Belle II $B^{+}\to K^{+}\nu \bar{\nu }$ measurement

   Lorenz Gärtner🇩🇪 · Nikolai Krug🇩🇪 · Thomas Kuhr🇩🇪 · Michael A. Schmidt🇦🇺 · Slavomira Stefkova🇩🇪 · Bruce Yabsley🇦🇺

   The Belle II measurement of the branching fraction for $B^{+}\to K^{+}\nu \bar{\nu }$ shows a $2.7\sigma$ excess over the Standard Model prediction and motivates new-physics explanations such as axion-like particles, Higgs-like scalars, or beyond Standard Model gauge bosons. A two-body decay $B^{+}\to K^{+}X$ with an invisible $X$ provides a natural candidate explanation. This work provides a comprehensive test of this hypothesis using Belle II's public model-agnostic likelihood. Posterior distributions are derived for the resonance mass $m_X$ and the branching fraction, and a modified frequentist upper-limit mass scan is performed. The data favor a resonance with mass $m_X=2.1_{-0.1}^{+0.2}$ GeV and the product $\mathcal{B}(B^{+}\to K^{+}X)\cdot {\mathcal{P}}_{X,\mathrm{inv}}=9.2_{-3.4}^{+1.8}\cdot 10^{-6}$, where ${\mathcal{P}}_{X,\mathrm{inv}}$ is the probability that $X$ (and its decay products) are undetected. Bayes factors indicate a very strong preference for the Standard Model plus resonance over the Standard Model-only hypothesis. A frequentist likelihood-ratio test favors the Standard Model plus resonance hypothesis by $3.0\sigma$. A light invisible resonance plus the Standard Model therefore provides a compelling description of the Belle II data.

   hep-phhep-exPRD(2026)·4 citations
9. 09*

   The S-wave topped meson

   Jun-Hao Zhang🇨🇳 · Shuo Yang🇨🇳 · Bing-Dong Wan🇨🇳

   Motivated by the recent near-threshold enhancement in top-quark pair production reported by CMS and ATLAS, we study the S-wave spectral structure of heavy-light systems containing a single top quark, namely $t\bar{q}$, $t\bar{c}$, and $t\bar{b}$, within the instantaneous Bethe-Salpeter formalism. Because the top quark decays on a timescale much shorter than the typical hadronization time, the discrete eigenvalues we obtain should be interpreted as model-dependent reference positions of possible quasi-bound heavy-light configurations, rather than as predictions for fully formed conventional hadrons. The numerical results indicate that the masses of these configurations lie close to the top-quark mass. For the $t\bar{b}$ system, the masses of the first four S-wave $0^{-}$ radial states are about $5.1$, $5.4$, $5.6$, and $5.7$~GeV above the top-quark mass, respectively. For the $t\bar{c}$ system, the corresponding values are about $1.9$, $2.2$, $2.5$, and $2.6$~GeV. We also briefly discuss possible production and decay patterns at a qualitative level, which may serve as a reference for future dedicated phenomenological studies or for experimental constraints.

   hep-phCPC(2026)·2 citations
10. 10*

    $S-P-D$ Mixing in Vector Quarkonia from the Salpeter Equation with Optimized Wave Function Representations

    Wen-Yuan Ke🇨🇳 · Qiang Li🇨🇳 · Tianhong Wang🇨🇳 · Tai-Fu Feng🇨🇳 · Guo-Li Wang🇨🇳

    This paper proposes a novel mechanism based on the instantaneous Bethe-Salpeter (Salpeter) equation for investigating wave function mixing in vector mesons such as $\psi (3770)$. Conventional theories typically treat $\psi (3770)$ as a $2S-1D$ mixed state; however, considering only tensor forces or relativistic corrections alone often leads to mixing angles that are too small and inconsistent with experimental data. Phenomenological $2S-1D$ mixing requires experimental data as input to determine the mixing angles, resulting in limited theoretical studies on states like ${\rm Y}(1D,2D)$ in the absence of experimental data. To more accurately describe $S-D$ mixing and its relativistic effects, this paper systematically compares four relativistic wave function representations (${\phi }_1$, ${\phi }_2$, ${\phi }_3$, and ${\phi }_4$) by solving the Salpeter equation and calculates the mass spectra and dileptonic decay widths of charmonium and bottomonium. The study finds that the wave function representation ${\phi }_2$ can simultaneously reproduce the experimental data of both charmonium and bottomonium well. Further analysis reveals that, in addition to $S-D$ mixing, the wave functions of vector mesons contain a non-negligible $P$-wave component, meaning they are $S-P-D$ mixed states. We predict the mixing angles for bottomonium ${\rm Y}(1D)$ and ${\rm Y}(2D)$ to be $(1.78_{-0.25}^{+0.32}{)}^{\circ }$ and $(5.44_{-0.76}^{+1.10}{)}^{\circ }$, with dileptonic decay widths of $2.29_{-0.69}^{+0.86}$ eV and $10.5_{-3.1}^{+4.2}$ eV, respectively.

    hep-phhep-exPRD(2026)·0 citations
11. 11*

    Elliptic Multiple Polylogarithms with Arbitrary Arguments in \textsc{GiNaC}

    Claude Duhr🇩🇪 · Florian Lorkowski🇨🇭 · Robin Marzucca🇨🇭 · Sofia Mauc🇨🇭 · Stefan Weinzierl🇩🇪

    We present an algorithm for the numerical evaluation of elliptic multiple polylogarithms for arbitrary arguments and to arbitrary precision. The cornerstone of our approach is a procedure to obtain a convergent $q$-series representation of elliptic multiple polylogarithms. Its coefficients are expressed in terms of ordinary multiple polylogarithms, which can be evaluated efficiently using existing libraries. In a series of preparation steps the elliptic polylogarithms are mapped into a region where the $q$-series converges rapidly. We also present an implementation of our algorithm into the \texttt{GiNaC} framework. This release constitutes the first public package capable of evaluating elliptic multiple polylogarithms to high precision and for arbitrary values of the arguments.

    hep-phcs.NAhep-thmath-ph+24 citations
12. 12*

    Cosmological signature and light Dark Matter in Dirac $L_{\mu }-L_{\tau }$ model

    Pritam Das🇮🇳

    We revisit an anomaly-free extension of the Standard Model (SM) $viz.$ gauged $L_{\mu }-L_{\tau }$ model in the Dirac framework, where the local $U(1{)}_{L_{\mu }-L_{\tau }}$ symmetry breaks and gives rise to a new gauge boson $Z^{\prime }$ and corresponding gauge coupling $g_{\mu \tau }$. Three additional heavy vector-like fermions, three light right-handed neutrinos and two heavy singlet scalars are added to complete the model framework for Dirac neutrinos. Another singlet vector-like fermion is added with a new gauge charge, which serves as a viable DM candidate, and the correct relic abundance is obtained via the resonance effect. The parameter space is considered after satisfying the current bounds on $M_{Z^{\prime }}$ and the gauge coupling $g_{\mu \tau }$. The influence of dark radiations coming from the additional light degrees of freedoms are studied in connection with the dark matter. After imposing all relevant theoretical and experimental constraints, the allowed parameter space is found to be highly restricted yet still accessible to ongoing and near-future experiments, rendering the scenario strongly predictive. Moreover, clear correlations among the relevant observables emerge throughout this study, making the model testable in current and future experimental searches.

    hep-ph1 citation
13. 13*

    The Too Visible QCD Axion

    Luca Di Luzio🇮🇹 · Michele Redi🇮🇹 · Alessandro Strumia🇮🇹 · Andrea Tesi🇮🇹 · Arsenii V. Titov🇮🇹

    Murayama proposed a GeV-scale axion theory where the up-quark mass term is generated dynamically by the QCD chiral condensate, spontaneously breaking a Peccei-Quinn symmetry. It predicts a too large mass splitting between neutral and charged pions. Trying to solve this problem we explore extensions. Despite some partial improvements, we identify a structural obstruction: the new Peccei-Quinn spurion breaks the accidental isospin symmetry of the chiral Lagrangian, leading to an enhanced higher-order operator. As a consequence, pion scatterings too are distorted. We also examine the limit in which the axion becomes light, finding that it is excluded by fifth-force constraints.

    hep-phhep-thJHEP(2026)·4 citations
14. 14*

    Few-particle lepton bound states in variational approach

    A. V. Eskin🇷🇺 · A. P. Martynenko🇷🇺 · F. A. Martynenko🇷🇺 · D. K. Pometko🇷🇺

    The energy levels of the ground states of the three-particle and four-particle bound states of leptons in quantum electrodynamics are calculated. For the calculation, the variational method with Gaussian basis functions is used. The hyperfine structure of the spectrum is taken into account due to the pairwise spin-spin interaction of particles.

    hep-phInt.J.Mod.Phys.A(2026)·1 citation
15. 15*

    Tensor states ${\rm Y}{B}_c^{\ast -}$ and $J/\psi B_c^{\ast +}$

    S. S. Agaev🇦🇿 · K. Azizi🇮🇷 · H. Sundu🇹🇷

    Tensor states ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{b}}={\rm Y}{B}_c^{\ast -}$ and ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{c}}=J/\psi B_c^{\ast +}$ are explored using techniques of QCD sum rule method. These hadronic molecules, composed of only heavy quarks, have asymmetric quark contents $bb\overline{b}\overline{c}$ and $cc\overline{c}\overline{b}$, respectively. The masses $m=(15864\pm 85)\mathrm{MeV}$ and $\tilde{m}=(9870\pm 82)\mathrm{MeV}$ prove that these structures are unstable against dissociations to constituent mesons. Full widths of molecules ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{b}}$ and ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{c}}$ are calculated by considering their dominant and subleading decay channels. The subleading channels are processes generated by annihilations of $\overline{b}b$ and $\overline{c}c$ quarks. For the molecule ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{b}}$ dominant decays are ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{b}}\to {\rm Y}{B}_c^{\ast -}$ and ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{b}}\to {\eta }_b{B}_c^{-}$, whereas subleading channels are transformations to ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{b}}\to B^{(\ast )-}{\overline{D}}^{(\ast )0}$ and ${\overline{B}}_{(s)}^{(\ast )0}{D}_{(s)}^{(\ast )-}$ mesons. In the lower limit ($l.l.$) of the mass $m=15779\mathrm{MeV}$ for ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{b}}$ decay to ${\rm Y}{B}_c^{\ast -}$ mesons is forbidden. In the case of ${\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{c}}$ we explore decays to $J/\psi B_c^{\ast +}$, ${\eta }_c{B}_c^{+}$, $B^{(\ast )+}{D}^{(\ast )0}$ and $B_{(s)}^{(\ast )0}{D}_{(s)}^{(\ast )+}$ mesons. Predictions $\Gamma [{\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{b}}]=120_{-12}^{+17}\mathrm{MeV}$, $\Gamma [{\mathcal{M}}_{\mathrm{T}}^{\mathrm{b}}{]}_{l.l.}=(65\pm 7)\mathrm{MeV}$ and ...

    hep-phhep-exhep-lat0 citations
16. 16*

    Minimal Freeze-in Dark Matter: Reviving electroweak doublet dark matter with Boltzmann suppressed freeze-in

    Nicolás Bernal🇦🇪 · Sagnik Mukherjee🇺🇸 · James Unwin🇺🇸

    Dark matter communicating with the Standard Model solely via electroweak interactions provides a compelling picture. However, thermal freeze-out of electroweak doublet dark matter is generically strongly excluded by direct detection. We show that SU(2)${}_L$ doublet fermion dark matter evades direct detection if its mass exceeds $10^{10}$ GeV. If the neutral Dirac fermion is split into a pseudo-Dirac pair (via high dimension operator) this limit can be relaxed to 300 GeV. Provided the dark matter mass is above the reheat temperature of the Universe, the production rate never exceeds the Hubble rate in cases of interest, thus the dark matter never thermalizes. We apply constraints from direct detection (e.g. LZ) and consider the discovery potential of Darwin. This scenario presents the most minimal model of freeze-in dark matter, and is both elegant and highly predictive.

    hep-phastro-ph.COPRD(2026)·4 citations
17. 17*

    Pushing the Limits of Atomic Dark Matter: First-Principles Recombination Rates and Cosmological Constraints

    Jared Barron🇺🇸 · Rouven Essig🇺🇸 · Megan H. McDuffie🇺🇸 · Jesús Pérez-Ríos🇺🇸 · Gregory Suczewski🇺🇸

    Minimal atomic dark matter with its distinctive cooling mechanisms offers an instructive framework for understanding the potential impact of dark matter on small-scale structure formation and early cosmology. The model consists of two fermions with opposite charges under a hidden Abelian gauge symmetry $U(1{)}_D$ and masses $m_{p_D}$ and $m_{e_D}$, respectively. Analogous to hydrogen in the Standard Model, these fermions interact via their own electromagnetic-like force, with a dark fine structure constant denoted by ${\alpha }_D$, and can bind into neutral atomic (and molecular) dark states. Previous work has largely focused on the benchmark scenario where the dark sector mirrors ordinary matter, with $m_{e_D}$ near the electron mass, $m_{p_D}$ near the proton mass, and ${\alpha }_D\sim 1/137$. We extend this analysis by investigating dark recombination and cooling physics across the full parameter space of masses and couplings. Combining Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) measurements from Planck and ACT with BAO and Pantheon+ data, we place new constraints on the atomic dark matter parameter space, identifying regions where acoustic damping and recombination dynamics leave observable imprints on the CMB.

    hep-phastro-ph.COJCAP(2026)·4 citations
18. 18*

    A Comprehensive Study on Top Quark FCNC Interactions in SMEFT Framework

    Subhajit Kala🇮🇳 · Soumitra Nandi🇮🇳

    We present a comprehensive, model-independent analysis of rare flavour-changing neutral current (FCNC) interactions of the top quark within an effective field theory framework. Beginning with a general parametrisation of top-FCNC couplings, we match these interactions onto the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) operator basis at the top-quark scale. We then perform a global study that incorporates constraints from low-energy flavour observables, electroweak precision data, Higgs and gauge-boson measurements, and electric dipole moment (EDM) bounds. By treating the dipole operators as complex, we derive stringent limits on both the real and imaginary components of left- and right-handed FCNC couplings. In particular, we show that constraints from the neutron EDM impose especially strong bounds on products of FCNC couplings involving the transition $t\to u$. Translating these results into the SMEFT framework, we obtain robust constraints on several products of the corresponding SMEFT Wilson coefficients. Finally, we provide predictions for branching ratios and CP asymmetries in rare top-quark FCNC decays. We identify well-motivated benchmark scenarios for future collider searches and emphasise the crucial role of CP-violating effects in probing the flavour structure of the top quark.

    hep-ph1 citation
19. 19*

    Analytical methods in Quantum Field Theories: from loop integrals to defect correlators

    Daniele Artico🇩🇪

    This thesis expands the available techniques at weak coupling by investigating the linear space of Feynman integrals and the role that (super)symmetry plays in reducing the number of integrals necessary to calculate correlators in the presence of a one-dimensional extended operator - the line defect. In the first part, linear relations among Feynman parametrized integrals are derived from their properties as projective forms; these relations are then tested on one- and multi-loop examples, and their connection to the algebra of polynomial ideals is uncovered. In the second part, made of two chapters, the defect CFT formed by the N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory in the presence of a Maldacena-Wilson line is studied through bulk-defect-defect and multipoint correlation functions up to next-to-next-to-leading order in the perturbative expansion at weak coupling. The investigations into this defect CFT lead to the identification of classes of integrals containing all the perturbative information necessary to compute the correlators, which turn out to be either rational functions or Goncharov polylogarithms.

    ↳ hep-thhep-ph0 citations
20. 20*

    A Small Patch Hypothesis in Cosmology

    Meir Shimon🇮🇱

    If our observable Universe is only a tiny region of a vastly larger and conformally older spacetime, then the usual formulations of the classical flatness and horizon problems of the Hot Big Bang can be reinterpreted as artifacts manifesting an observational selection effect; we occupy a small causal domain of a much larger causally-connected and possibly non-flat spacetime. A sufficiently large positive cosmological constant, $\Lambda$, sets the future asymptotic horizon scale of the observable Universe, $\sim$${\Lambda }^{-1/2}$, thereby implying that the observable Universe may simply be a minute patch of a far larger pre-existing one, hereafter a Small Patch Hypothesis. Importantly, this observational bound is purely geometric; regardless of when the Universe is observed, the maximum accessible scale is finite and fixed by $\Lambda$, independent of inflationary dynamics, anthropic arguments, or assumptions about the global hosting spacetime. In this sense, inflation becomes one viable realization of the proposed Small Patch Hypothesis. Here, one particular non-inflationary alternative is considered for illustrative purposes in which a primordial spectrum grows logarithmically toward large scales, and in fact diverges at some finite $k_c$. If $k_c\ll {\Lambda }^{-1/2}$, then our local cosmic patch probes only the linear regime and appears exceptionally smooth. Over the comparatively narrow observable window, this power spectrum mimics a slightly red-tilted, inflation-like spectrum. Rather than introducing high-energy new fields, this perspective frames large-scale homogeneity, isotropy, Gaussianity, adiabaticity, and the observed thermodynamic Arrow of Time as possible consequences of restricted observational access to a much larger Universe in equilibrium, rather than signatures of a unique early-Universe mechanism. [abridged]

    ↳ gr-qcastro-ph.COhep-phAstronomy(2026)·0 citations
21. 21*

    Microlensing events and primordial black holes in the axionlike curvaton model

    Kentaro Kasai🇯🇵 · Masahiro Kawasaki🇯🇵 · Kai Murai🇯🇵 · Shunsuke Neda🇯🇵

    Recently, Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) observations found 12 candidates for microlensing events. These events can be explained by primordial black holes (PBHs) with masses of $10^{-7}$-$10^{-6}{M}_{\odot }$ and a fraction of all dark matter of $f_{\mathrm{PBH}}=\mathcal{O}(10^{-1})$. In this paper, we consider the PBH production in two types of the axionlike curvaton models, which predict an enhancement of the curvature perturbations on small scales. We show that the microlensing events can be explained in the axionlike curvaton model and discuss the cosmological implications such as gravitational waves.

    ↳ astro-ph.COhep-ph2 citations
22. 22*

    Colour confinement and gauge-invariant field-strength correlations

    Adriano Di Giacomo🇮🇹

    In this paper we produce evidence that confinement of colour is due to dual superconductivity of $QCD$ vacuum. To do that we put together results of old numerical simulations and results of more recent investigations. The starting point is the expectation that gauge theories admit a dual description in terms of monopoles. The strategy is then to construct the creation operator $\mu$ of a monopole and to compute its vacuum expectation value $⟨\mu ⟩$ , the disorder parameter which indicates dual superconductivity. The Imechanism of confinement is dual superconductivity of vacuum if $⟨\mu ⟩\ne 0$ in the confined phase , and $⟨\mu ⟩=0$ in the deconfined phase. Confinement has to be certified by independent methods. It is shown that gauge invariance requires that field strengths be replaced by gauge invariant field strengths, which are their parallel transports to infinity. The resulting disorder parameter is a sum of correlation functions of gauge invariant field strength, and its behaviour understood by use of existing lattice data of two-point gauge invariant correlations. As a byproduct an apparent existing inconsistency, the lack of preferred orientation in colour space of the chromo-electric field inside confining flux tubes, is resolved.

    ↳ hep-lathep-phhep-thJ.Subatomic Part.Cosmol.(2026)·0 citations
23. 23*

    Non-minimally Coupled Running Curvaton for DESI-preferred Dynamical Dark Energy and Hubble Tension

    Bichu Li🇨🇳 · Lei-Hua Liu🇨🇳

    Recent DESI 2025 results have renewed interest in dynamical dark energy models with phantom crossing. In this work, we extend the running curvaton scenario by introducing a non-minimal gravitational coupling, $\xi {\chi }^{2}R$. We show that this coupling can drive the late-time equation of state into the DESI-preferred region in the $(w_0,w_a)$ plane. We further find that, at leading order, the early-universe predictions of the original running curvaton model can be preserved through a parameter redefinition, while the scalar sector remains free of gradient instability in the regime considered. A parameter scan identifies viable regions and a benchmark solution that also shifts the background-inferred value of $H_0$ upward. These results suggest that the non-minimally coupled running curvaton provides a viable framework for DESI-motivated dark energy evolution, with possible implications for the Hubble tension.

    ↳ astro-ph.COgr-qchep-phhep-th1 citation
24. 24*

    Hypernuclear constraints on $\Lambda N$ and $\Lambda NN$ interactions

    Eliahu Friedman🇮🇱 · Avraham Gal🇮🇱

    Recent work on using density dependent $\Lambda$-nuclear optical potentials in calculations of $\Lambda$-hypernuclear binding energies is reviewed. It is found that all known $\Lambda$ binding energies in the mass range $16\le A\le 208$ are well fitted in terms of two interaction parameters: one, attractive, for the spin-averaged $\Lambda N$ interaction and another one, repulsive, for the $\Lambda NN$ interaction. The $\Lambda N$ interaction term by itself overbinds $\Lambda$ hypernuclei, in quantitative agreement with recent findings obtained in EFT and Femtoscopy studies. The strength of the $\Lambda NN$ interaction term is compatible with values required to resolve the hyperon puzzle.

    ↳ nucl-thhep-phnucl-exActa Phys.Polon.B(2026)·5 citations
25. 25*

    $D\bar{D}$ interactions are weak near threshold in QCD

    David J. Wilson🇬🇧 · Jozef J. Dudek🇺🇸 · Robert G. Edwards🇺🇸 · Christopher E. Thomas🇬🇧

    We study near-threshold $D\bar{D}$ scattering in $S$ and $D$-wave to determine whether or not resonances or bound states are present. Working in the approximation where charm-annihilation is forbidden, with two degenerate light-quark flavors and a heavier strange quark, isospin is a good quantum number, and the only other other channel that is kinematically open is ${\eta }_c\eta$. Using lattice QCD we compute, as a function of varying light-quark mass, the $S$-matrix for coupled-channel ${\eta }_c\eta -D\bar{D}$ scattering and find only weakly interacting meson pairs. In contrast to several other studies, we find no evidence for any bound-state or resonance singularity in the energy region between the deeply-bound ${\chi }_{c0}(1P)$ state and the $D_s{\bar{D}}_s$ threshold.

    ↳ hep-lathep-ph5 citations
26. 26*

    Imaging two-body correlations in atomic nuclei via low- and high-energy processes

    Stavros Bofos🇫🇷 · Benjamin Bally🇩🇪 · Thomas Duguet🇫🇷 · Mikael Frosini🇫🇷

    Characterizing the correlated behavior of nucleons inside atomic nuclei constitutes a long-standing challenge, both experimentally and theoretically. It has recently been understood that two-particle correlations in the azimuthal distribution of final hadrons emitted in ultra-relativistic ultra-central ion-ion collisions can be used to quantify ground-state two-body correlations. Performing systematic ab initio nuclear structure calculations of light nuclei, we demonstrate that such an observable does provide a meaningful imaging of nuclear ground states, naturally leading to a robust interpretation of the various categories of two-nucleon correlations at play. This is at variance with the low-energy approach relying on Kumar operators whose traditional interpretation in terms of deformation parameters is shown to be inoperative. A future interesting development will consist of targeting specific three-particle correlations to isolate three-nucleon correlations in which additional nuclear structure information of interest leave their fingerprint.

    ↳ nucl-thhep-phnucl-exPLB(2026)·8 citations
27. 27*

    Constraining long-lived dark sector particles with CMB and Lyman-$\alpha$

    Laura Lopez-Honorez🇧🇪 · Sonali Verma🇧🇪

    We use measurements of the intergalactic medium (IGM) temperature from the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest to place new limits on models in which long-lived dark sector (DS) particles, with lifetimes longer than $10^{16}$ s, deposit energy into the IGM through their decays. Such DS decays into Standard Model (SM) states can modify the late-time thermal history of the IGM, making Lyman-$\alpha$ data a sensitive probe of hidden sectors with cosmologically long lifetimes. Our analysis demonstrates that constraints from late-time IGM heating offer a complementary window to those from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), in constraining dark sector parameter space. We further revisit limits on such decaying DS models from Planck's measurements of the optical depth to reionization and provide updates relevant for DS lifetimes longer than $10^{14}$ s. The model-independent constraints on the DS parameter space we derive in this work can be reinterpreted for a wide range of decaying hidden-sector scenarios, including evaporating primordial black holes and SM-coupled dark photons.

    ↳ astro-ph.COhep-ph2 citations
28. 28*

    Statistical isotropy of the universe and the look-elsewhere effect

    Alan H. Guth · Mohammad Hossein Namjoo🇮🇷

    Recently, Jones et al. [arXiv:2310.12859] claimed strong evidence for the statistical anisotropy of the universe. The claim is based on a joint analysis of four different anomaly tests of the cosmic microwave background data, each of which is known to be anomalous, with a lower level of significance. They reported a combined $p$-value of about $3\times 10^{-8}$, which is more than a $5\sigma$ level of significance. We observe that statistical anisotropy is not even relevant for two of the four considered tests, which seems sufficient to invalidate the authors' claim. Furthermore, even if one reinterprets the claim as evidence against $\Lambda$CDM rather than statistical anisotropy, we argue that this result significantly suffers from the look-elsewhere effect. Assuming a set of independent (i.e., uncorrelated) tests, we show that if the four tests with the smallest $p$-values are cherry-picked from 10 independent tests, the $p$-value reported by Jones et al. corresponds to only $3\sigma$ significance. If there are 27 independent tests, the significance falls to $2\sigma$. These numbers, however, overstate our argument, since the four tests used by Jones et al. are slightly correlated. Determining the correlation of Jones et al.'s tests by comparing their joint $p$-value with the product of the four separate $p$-values, we find that about 16 or 50 tests are sufficient to reduce the significance of Jones et al.'s results to 3$\sigma$ or 2$\sigma$ significance, respectively. We also provide a list of anomaly tests discussed in the literature (and propose a few generalizations), suggesting that very plausibly 16 (or even 50) independent tests have been published, and possibly many more have been considered but not published. We conclude that the current data is consistent with the $\Lambda$CDM model and, in particular, with statistical isotropy.

    ↳ astro-ph.COgr-qchep-exhep-ph+12 citations

* Reconstructed cohort: no mailing for this day survives in the archive. Papers are grouped by their submission times and arXiv's announcement cut-off, assuming announcement without delay; positions follow identifier order. Validated at ~91% exact-day agreement against the archived era.